Body piercing instrument holder

Abstract

The holder is designed for use with piercing instruments such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,224. The holder consists of a pair of jaws connected by a flexible bight. Each jaw has a recess at its free end to receive a portion of the piercing instrument. One jaw has a number of opposing protrusions disposed on an inner surface of the jaw. In use, the piercing instrument is inserted between the jaws of the holder. The piercing instrument is thereby securely retained in all three dimensions, so that it cannot be accidentally dislodged from the holder prior to use, such as during packaging, sterilizing or shipping. The holder and instrument are aligned with, for example, an earlobe between the pin and locknut carried by the piercing instrument. As the jaws of the holder are squeezed together, the piercing pin and a receiving locknut are moved toward one another. Further pressure on the legs of the holder releases the piercing pin, suddenly projecting it through the earlobe into engagement with the locknut. As pressure is relaxed, the resilience of the holder's bight moves the jaws apart, leaving the pin and nut secured to the earlobe and the piercing instrument free of the holder for separation from the pin and locknut.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination, a piercing instrument and a holder for said piercing instrument, said piercing instrument including a plunger adapted to engage a head of a piercing pin and a locknut support adapted to receive a pointed end of said piercing pin after it has been projected through a body part, said holder comprising means for commonly supporting said plunger engaging means and said locknut support engaging means and means for preventing said piercing instrument from being dislodged from said holder. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said plunger engaging means is disposed at a proximal end of a first jaw portion of said holder, said locknut support engaging means is disposed at a proximal end of a second jaw portion of said holder, and wherein said commonly supporting means comprise a resilient bight integrally formed with a distal end of said first jaw portion and said second jaw portion. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said preventing means comprises a number of protrusions arranged on said second jaw portion to retain said piercing instrument in position in said holder. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said preventing means comprises two opposing protrusions, one located on each side of said piercing instrument when said holder is holding said piercing instrument. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said preventing means further comprises means, arranged on said second jaw portion, for retaining a rear portion of said piercing instrument.